13 Weeks Old!

Now it's time to start counting weeks and months...so as of yesterday Zap is 3 months old :)

I am finding that Zap's training is zooming along. The key is integrating his training into our everyday routine and it's working beautifully! I couldn't be more pleased with his progress. We do a short burst of attention heeling before EVERY meal and he is so flashy. The name game is done EVERY time he is called in from outside. Adding distractions slowly is important and we take our training on the road whenever there are errands to run and classes to attend. I'm loving this process and he is such a sponge.....taking it all in!

Agility class for Siena and Truly today. We should be on our way to Syracuse for 4 days of agility trials; however, Siena came into heat so we had to cancel :( Have to admit I am very disappointed since we haven't trialed since November. On the up side we have some nice trials coming up in May, June and July!

Bought the Zap Man a new bed at CVS this past weekend. Surprisingly they have a cute little selection of dog stuff. It was only $3 (had a $2 off coupon :). I know it's small~but hey, when he is 75 pounds he can use it as a pillow and he looks so cute in it now.

Off to play agility!



Zap's new bed

Fresh and Clean

Apollo was due for a bath and some grooming so today was his day. He was perfect for me in the tub. In fact, he is the easiest dog I've ever bathed!

Soft coat and smelling sweet....this boy is extra huggable today!




Max and Apollo....Apollo waiting for the kong


Apollo's turn with the Kong


Looks like he should be on a calendar!

Waiting for Max to come out to play


Looking very grown up

Such a handsome boy

12 Weeks Old!

Of course we had to celebrate this special day with a baby ice cream cone! It got up to 60 degrees today and stopping for an ice cream treat on the way home from agility class made it seem like winter is OVER ;-)

Happy 12 week birthday wishes to the "Blue" siblings.

Outside Playtime

We've had some gorgeous spring weather the past few days. Zap enjoys being outside and he can always make me laugh. Nothing like a cute golden puppy bounding up to you proudly holding his favorite toy. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

he looks so grown up in this picture

new favorite ball

that look is TROUBLE ;-)

beautiful puppy

Always working on that recall

Weekend Activities

This past weekend was chock full of dog events and training. Friday I took Zap to the Collie Club show at AK9C to hang out and socialize. He met his older brother Teller and got to play with litter mate Sam! Saturday I spent most of the day training/playing with the dogs. The yard was fairly dry and I got in some nice agility practice with the girls and started Apollo with the weave poles. Zap is loving the tippy plank and wobble board. His finger pick ups are getting faster and I started the cone game with him (sending him out and around a cone). Truly's weave pole entries are improving and she is keeping her head down and driving through. Julie pointed out in class last week that her head was too high. Made some adjustments and lowering my hand at the end of the poles helped a lot (thank you Julie!) Sunday was the NE Sporting Group Assoc. Dog Show in Fitchburg, MA. We went to watch and cheer for Summer (half sis to Truly & Zap).
Bob brought Zap in to experience the show scene and Zappy seemed to drink it all in! Apollo came along for the ride and I worked some loose leash walking and a little bit of attention heeling with him. The highlight for Apollo was being able to give Kara big golden HUGS! We also did a little shopping....bought a new soft crate and a dog bed. We got home and took Max, Molly, Siena and Truly for a long walk. Then the boys from next door came over to play with the pup.

11 Weeks Old!

Although it was a rainy, gloomy day we made the best of it. Zap patiently watched his sister Truly and house sister Siena during their agility classes. Then afterwards I took him up and down the hallway at American K9 Country and worked on attention and keeping a loose leash. Zap finds it difficult to accept the fact that he CAN'T run up and start playing with every dog he sees. I was armed with high value treats so that really helped persuade him that it was better to stick with me. I put him on a cart outside the ring and got him use to being on an object that moves (a foundation agility skill) and he just did a spread eagle and went for a ride with no concern. I was careful not to turn on a dime which would have sent him flying across the room. ;-) Before we left I let him run around the agility ring to burn off that puppy energy so he would sleep on the ride home. Zap got to see Ann again and we are looking forward to joining her basic obedience class in 3 weeks.

Agility class for Zap tomorrow and I'm hoping to rent the ring afterwards to work with Siena. We have the Syracuse Agility Trials coming up in a couple weeks and we're both a little rusty.

Feeling Sentimental

Zap has been part of our lives for a little over two weeks now. The days are speeding by faster than I want, but at the same time I anticipated this feeling. It's hard to imagine that over 2 months have gone by since my dad passed away. He is the reason we ended up with Zappy pup. I don't know why things happened as they did; however, I'm sure I'm not the first to feel this way. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. Zap (SunKissed Electric Blue) is named after dad's favorite electric blue car that he proudly drove to town to run errands. Ever the environmentalist he worked hard at conserving energy any way he could.

We thought of you today and that was nothing new;
We thought of you yesterday and we will tomorrow too.
We think of you in silence and make no outward show,
For what it meant to lose you no one will ever know.
You were gone before we knew it and only God knows why.
It's lonely here without you we miss you more each day.
Life is not the same for us since you were called away.
Each time we see your picture you seem to smile and say;
"Don't cry, we'll be together again someday."


dad on the right~ 1924


dad after WWII?~have to check the date


dad camping with Jamie & Erik~1990


dad and his electric car~ 1999